Contents: EXCLUSIVE! SHOOT REPORTS 21-22 FAN UK invites you to 10-11 Pines Park Archers 04/06/17 “Meet JIM METCALFE” 18-19 Foxhill Bowmen 04/06/17 40-41 FAN UK introducing 24-25 Lawton Field Bowmen 02/07/17 presents “Siberian Arrow” 30-33 Labyrinth Archers 02/07/17 37 Whitefriars Bowmen 11/06/17 NEW FEATURES 42-43 Dunbrody Archers 10 & 11/06/17 4-6 “Dunster Archery Week … where GNAS 46 Delamere Field Archers 16/07/17 meets NFAS” by Andrea Beddard-Smith 54-55 Wolfshead Field Archers 11/06/17 & Alex Smith 58-60 Black Arrow FAC 11/06/17 26-28 “Nydam Arrow Replicas” 66-67 Regent Archers 23/07/17 by Will Sherman 74-77 Draig Goch Field Archers’ 55 Readers’ Letters 2017 Welsh National Champs 64 FAN UK invites you to 80-81 Druids FA 17 & 18/06/17 “Meet Purbeck Archers” 88-90 Overton Black Arrows 83 “Alternative Ads for Archers” Annual Open Field Shoot by Barry Johnson REGULARS SHOOT INFO/ENTRY FORMS 8-9 A Superb Cartoon for you! 23 Magna Carta Field Archers 12-14 “The Bowyer’s Diary”: Materials Summer Friendly Shoot 12/08/17 by Derek Hutchinson 65 Purbeck Archers Inaugural Shoot 45 Sue Kenworthy Poetry 15/10/17 48-51 “A Journey in Archery, Part 6” 72 Aurora FAC 3 day shoot by Mitch Vaughan 26, 27 & 28/08/17 56 “Archery on the Big Screen” by David 1066 PHOTOGRAPHY 62-63 NFAS Shooting Styles (Bowhunter) COVER SHOT Jason Quinn by Stuart Moody 15 Sheron Vowden 84-85 HOODS AND MAIDS 36 Jason Quinn 93 A Superb Cartoon for you! 78 Fritz von Weinsberg/Armin Hirmer 82 Mark Service UPDATES 86 Ray Kay 70-71 Azincourt 600 Archers’ Tribute 95 Paul Williams by OH Boyd 101 Paul Williams 98-99 Club Locations Directory REAR COVER Paul Williams QUIZZES 34 Word Search 68 Anagrams 72 Anagrams Answers from June/July 2017 96 Word Search Answers from June/July 2017 2
A message from your editor, Hels... Welcome, or welcome back to the latest edition of FAN UK! Well, we have yet another bumper edition for you this summer in this August/ September issue and I am really excited again to share all of the articles, shoots and more that are jam-packed within the pages that follow. It is now well over a year since I launched Field Archery News UK and I still cannot really believe we are now on edition number 9!! I am extremely grateful to all of our contributors, supporters and YOU, the readers, for all of your lovely comments and suggestions. Please do keep them coming - I cannot wait to include even more clubs and associations in forthcoming issues! :-) A reminder for you - you can now buy our beautiful fully-embroidered FAN UK patches, just see the website to find out how! Also, if you would like to show your support/appreciation for the work that goes into FAN UK, and to help me keep if free for all to access, then there is also now a “Donate” button on the site - any donation, no matter how large or small, will help keep us going and growing for you all. If you would like to contribute - be it shoot reports, club contacts, photos, event calendar inclusions or other articles - I would be delighted to hear from you and, as always, please email: [email protected] to do so or get in touch via the website, Facebook or Twitter. FAN UK is produced purely for the love of archery & the wider archery family and community - thank you for being a part of it :-) Thank you again & I do hope that you enjoy this & every issue - Hels, Creator & Editor. The Editor reserves the right to edit any submissions received. 3
… where GNAS meets NFAS - by Andrea Beddard-Smith & Alex Smith. Those of you who are GNAS archers may have heard of Dunster week, for us we’d had years of going to shoots and friends telling us we must go to Dunster, its special - so this year we did. Dunster Castle is the location of the Great Western Archery Society’s 144th Championship meeting, an annual weeklong festival of archery in mid-June. Traditionally Somerset kicks the week off with their County tournament on the Sunday and then on Monday Dunster week proper starts with a World Archery 1440 (FITA), then on day two, Tuesday there’s a choice of events, for the dedicated target archer there’s an Albion (traditional imperial round) and for the more ambitious there is a field shoot hosted by NFAS club Dunkery which will be well known to any of you who have braved the South West Challenge. Dunkery is located on a farm in the hills above Dunster, a tiny club of only 8 members but it is able to put on amazing shoots, I suspect that for many of the GNAS archers present this was their first taste of field, and for those who have done FITA field a whole new experience – no open lanes or roundels for starters! The day started as usual with assembly and our host Mike Willerton explained to the assembly what a Big Game Round was, a big game round however of only 32 targets as it was being shot under GNAS rules. The rules of the round were explained on the back of each person’s single score card, GNAS only has one score card! A bit weird for the few NFAS archers like us who were there wearing our GNAS hats and, of course, there are other differences, only those who were also NFAS archers responded yes to the question “Do you have a whistle?” The safety procedure in GNAS entails calling out the number of the peg where a problem has arisen and that number being repeated by each peg until the whole field and specifically the judges know there is a problem; and binos are 4
allowed!! This last one was a conundrum for us, we shoot compound limited and being sighted have been in the pro-binos group in NFAS and so we duly took our scopes along but decided that it was altogether just too weird and so left them in the car… We started on peg 9 which turned Those of you who are GNAS archers may have heard of Dunster week, for us we’d had out to be a good one to start on as it was relatively close to the hut. We were shooting with Andy, Keith and Martin. Andy we had shot with before and knew he was fun to shoot with and it turned out that he knew the other two, so we were all set for a laughter filled day. And the targets did not disappoint, they were the sort of well thought out tricksy shots that we’d come to expect from Dunkery, lots of seemingly impossible shots through narrow gaps in trees and - given Dunkery’s well known hills - a lot of up and down shots which are almost unknown to us at our own club, Company of Sixty. With so many great shots it is difficult to pull out any for specific mention, however from conversation The day started as usual with assembly and our host Mike Willerton explained to the at the tea tent one stands out – the mosquito through assembly what a Big Game Round was, a big game round however of only 32 targets as an interconnecting stand of trees winning favourite shot it was being shot under GNAS rules. The rules of the round were explained on the award for both awkwardness and wow factor. back of each person’s single score card, GNAS only has one score card! A bit weird We were told at assembly that there was a predator there are other differences, only those who were also NFAS archers responded yes to and prey shot but not which one it was, so when we got to a long shot with a buffalo and wolf a discussion ensued, we agreed that it had to be with the wolf taking on the large buffalo. Luckily Mike arrived in time to confirm that we were correct, and in talking to Mike we discovered that he had laid the course single-handedly moving the beast into place with the aid of a 4x4, amazing all that work done by one person. Our group were caught out by a little deer in a clearing, it looked to be a way off but proved to be much closer and most of our group had to take a second shot – the course layer definitely beat us on that one. Lunch was at the new hut and, being part of Dunster week, there was a good supply of ‘orange health drink’ to sustain tired archers, and one or two were noticeable wobbly after lunch! 5
One of our group was on his first ever field shoot and being a GNAS target longbow archer was used to using a rubber band as a sight, which is not allowed in field, so it took him a while to get into the swing of things and despite losing most of his arrows he left the course with a big smile on his face and declared he was coming back for more, once he’d got a few more arrows that is. With only 32 targets we were finished by 4.00pm but nevertheless tired after a very enjoyable day, all that was left to do was to drop by the farmer and get a pot of his excellent honey. And we would like to thank Mike at Dunkery for all of his hard work in putting out an excellent, challenging and enjoyable course for us to shoot, and also his helpers on the day. For us the field day at Dunkery was the highlight of the week, which continued with - on Wednesday - the longbow day, followed by a double two-way clout. A clout is, in many ways, the target archer’s field shoot: the target is difficult to see, it's impossible to tell if your arrow has scored and no-one worries if they miss. It's more about a good day out walking and chatting with a bow in hand and, in the case of Dunster, lots of orange health drink. A Western round followed on Friday and the event ended with a weekend double York/Hereford. A full and varied week of archery in a great setting. With thanks to GWAS and - in particular - to Vikki Atkins, the Dunster week organiser, this event will now be a regular on our archery calendar. By Andrea Beddard-Smith & Alex Smith. 6
One of our group was on his first ever field shoot and being a GNAS target longbow archer was used to using a rubber band as a sight, which is not allowed in field, so it took him a while to get into the swing of things and despite losing most of his arrows he left the course with a big smile on his face and declared he was coming back for more, once he’d got With only 32 targets we were finished by 4.00pm but nevertheless tired after a very enjoyable day, all that was left to do was to drop by the farmer and get a pot the target is difficult to see, it's impossible to tell if your arrow has scored and one worries if they miss. It's more about a good day out walking and chatting with A Western round followed on Friday and the event ended with a weekend to Vikki Atkins, the Dunster week Smith 7
EXTREME FIELD ARCHERY (No. 7) 8
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PINES PARK ARCHERS Open Shoot - 4th June 2017 ~ Report by Dawn Cullen & Sandra Reilly ~ Well after our last shoot I have to say I was watching the weather by the hour for Sunday as the last one we got very very wet and how pleasantly surprised I was, the day turned out nice and everyone seemed to have a lovely time. We felt a little nervous in the admin tent with our new computer system but that went well (even if I did read the manual 100 times before just to get it right). All the archers we spoke to had a good day and a lot of positive feedback was reported to admin. Our raffle money raised was £105.60 and this is going towards Macmillan Beyond Diagnosis, thank you so much to all who dug deep to give to this wonderful cause. We would like to say a huge thank you to the work party that all gathered on the Saturday to get the course ready, to all the Marshall's on Sunday but most of all the Archers that turned up to make this day happen. We look forward to seeing you all in August. AFB GENTS: AFB LADIES: Paul Meeson Salamander FAC 750 Sue Walker Harlequin BHs 514 Stan Drozdo Crusader Bowmen 426 Rachel Kenny Cobra Archers 404 Christopher Shaw Crusader Bowmen 420 Kay Blanchard Cobra Archers 246 Steven Brown Independent 326 Michael Stansfield Independent 274 BB GENTS: Derek Warriner Independent — Christopher Robson Wyre Hall FAs 780 Martyn Nazaruk Artemis Archers 730 BB LADIES: Andrew Martin Duvelle Bowmen 692 Shelagh Newell Castle Bowmen 554 David Hook Independent 628 Jacqui Johnson Centaura 548 Paul Shaw Long Eaton FAs 572 Chris Ward Cobra Archers 496 BB U12 GIRL: Michael Newell Castle Bowmen 482 Holly Cook Harlequin BHs 558 BH GENTS: BH LADIES: Luke Haynes Independent 754 Samantha Haynes Harlequin BHs 616 Joseph Ward Albion 676 CL GENTS: CL LADIES: Martin Stubbs Woodend FAs 824 Yvonne James Cobra Archers 504 Martin Barratt Harlequin BHs 552 FS GENTS: HT GENTS: Barry Withers Independent 478 David Barker Duvelle Bowmen R Christopher Moon Robin Hood LB’men 698 HT GENTS continued: Christopher Babb The 100 yds F.A.C. 622 Mike Garbett Robin Hood LB’men 500 Hayden Bannister Spirit of Sherwood 580 Garry Thompson Albion 244 John Hall Cobra Archers 572 Les Bilbrough Wyre Hall FAs 554 HT LADIES: Robbie Bannister Spirit of Sherwood 534 Julie Bacon Harlequin BHs 572 Paul Swain Woodend 526 Ruth Hanlon Cobra Archers 478 George Hampson Poulter Guys BM 504 Anne Moon Independent 334 10
LB GENTS: Ken Adams Spirit of Sherwood 560 Derek Blore Crusader Bowmen 526 Richard Beal Cheshire Oak BM 524 Gary Cook Harlequin BHs 522 Paul (Grot) Davis Independent 488 Clifford Davis Kings Norton TAs 466 Ian Connerton Long Eaton FAs 4 2 0 Mike Williams Cheshire Oak BM 384 Martin Wilson Independent 364 PV GENTS: Pat Morrow Pride Park Archers 568 Robert Hickey Pride Park Archers 550 Phillip Johnson Centaura 454 £105.60 and this is going towards Macmillan Beyond Diagnosis, UL GENTS: Richard Glossop Long Eaton FAs 924 We would like to say a huge thank you to the work party that all gathered on the Saturday Lee Gardecki Black Sheep Archers 912 to get the course ready, to all the Marshall's on Sunday but most of all the Archers that Harry Boyce Nemesis Archers 888 John Whitehead Cobra Archers 846 Percy Pinfield-Wells Independent 842 Peter Forrester Independent 808 Samuel Ward Albion 768 Nicholas Yeates Duvelle Bowmen 766 Jack Shaw Long Eaton FAs 764 Daniel Williams Lyme Valley Archers 744 Cliff Kirkman Harlequin BHs 712 UL LADIES: Terri Boyce Nemesis Archers 928 Paula Kimbley Pride Park Archers 798 11
Del The Cat’s “Bowyer’s Diary” ~ Materials ~ by Derek Hutchison (AKA Del the Cat on various archery forums!) I vastly prefer natural materials, but some modern materials are very good, notably string and glues which don’t look too different from the natural equivalent. As my brother once pointed out, if Neolithic man had superglue and epoxy, he’d have used it! Although linen and hemp make fine strings and hide glue is superb stuff, convenience, availability and lack of smell are factors in going modern. Some people seem hell bent on using modern materials where inappropriate and unnecessary - like sticking glass fibre (or glass fibre tape) on to the back of a wooden bow when bamboo, linen or rawhide would do the job. I have made bows from glass fibre and rock maple laminations, but it’s more of an assembly job than a tillering one. What I’m talking about here is wooden bows, self bows, backed bows and to a lesser extent laminates (and yes we’ll include bamboo, if you object to this inclusion, don’t use it!). I’ve found the term “Traditional Bows” used a lot lately (on Facebook) which personally I find confusing as it is getting used willy-nilly for just about everything made after 1950! To me “traditional” means from the pre-industrial era, but maybe I was just born a few hundred or thousand years too late. Some natural materials can seem a bit daunting but are actually a joy to use. I used to hate doing horn nocks, but a little practice and confidence has allowed me to do them quickly and effectively whilst enjoying the chance to add a bit of individuality to the shape (but don’t make them so long that they can break due to excessive leverage if they get bumped). Horn works nicely with any wood working tools and buffs up to a glorious translucent shine (see picture of polished horn slice - right). Antler and bone are also interesting to work, I joke that antler is bone hard whereas horn is relatively soft. Mother of pearl (MOP) is another lovely material with a good historical basis as lots of shellfish was eaten in the past right back to Neolithic times. It’s easy to imagine MOP is very brittle, but it is surprisingly robust and can be 12
worked with files, hacksaw, grinding wheel belt sander etc and can be nicely polished of course. There is also occasional discussion about Aluminium alloy or Carbon arrows being used with English Longbows, other than aesthetics and trying to find the right spine there are the environmental considerations, I dread to think what the carbon footprint of Alli’s and Carbons is. The other day someone was asking about cutting self nocks in arrows and I recommended whipping a few turns of fine linen thread just below the nock and wiping it with epoxy or touching it with low viscosity superglue which soaks in forming a very strong composite material. He said he was going to try heat shrink tubing. Why? I simply can’t fathom it, maybe it’s just me but I felt it would be weaker, looser, just as fiddly, look out of place and it just jarred my sensibilities. Turns out he has heatshrink but not linen thread… I had an interesting e-mail from a young author asking about bows and materials for a story she was writing set in medieval times. She had never but it’s more of an assembly job than a tillering one. What I’m talking shot a bow! So my advice was firstly to try it even just a taster or have-a-go about here is wooden bows, self bows, backed bows and to a lesser extent session. You can never really write about the feeling of shooting if you laminates (and yes we’ll include bamboo, if you object to this inclusion, haven’t done it. I then gave her some ideas of the materials that an don’t use it!). I’ve found the term “Traditional Bows” used a lot lately impoverished peasant could use to make arrow heads when he couldn’t afford steel, also materials for arrows, strings, bows and some info’ on accuracy, range etc. Materials for arrow heads aren’t too difficult to come by, a simple bulge or point on the end of the shaft maybe fire hardened, stone, bone, antler, horn all spring to mind, and for small game 4 short sticks bound on the tip like a “#” as used by Ishi (a Native American). That reminds me, I’ve I used to hate doing horn nocks, but a little practice and confidence has been meaning to try that for ages although we are not allowed to hunt (even vermin) in the UK, but it would be good for a popinjay shoot! I got a nice e-mail in reply thanking me for my response and saying she was really keen and would definitely have a go at archery, maybe we’ll have another convert? Once you put your mind to it one can’t help wondering if we actually make archery vastly overcomplicated (and expensive). If you had to make your own equipment to put meat on the table I think the string is the hardest part. I have made nettle cordage which would probably do for a low poundage bow, making a good quality string would take a lot of time patience and learning. I s’pose it all depends where your interest and inclination take you, but I feel one should try and use materials sympathetically and appropriately. Consider bows from various regions, take the Japanese Yumi bow made of bamboo with a Mulberry core. The choice of Bamboo is pretty obvious, but why Mulberry for the core? It is doubtless suited to the purpose, but also 13
Mulberry leaves are the foodstuff of the silk moth, so maybe it’s because there are plenty of Mulberry trees to use? Use what is around, keep your eyes open for interesting materials ... horse hair snagged on a barbed wire fence, leather sofas being thrown out, bones and raw hide from dog chews. There is a world of interesting material and I haven’t even mentioned sinew yet! I even got some lovely colourful feathers from a road kill duck at the end of our road (please see pictures below). I’ve not gone so far as to skin road kill, but I gather squirrel skin will make a good bowstring if cut as a long spiral from the skin and twisted up. For fletchings on flight arrows a local farmer who keeps a few geese allowed me to collect dropped feathers in July when they are moulting. Horse Hair ’n’ Feathers Horn Antler Bone I suppose I should mention arrows. Please let’s have wooden or bamboo ones with real feather fletchings, better for the environment during manufacture, loss or breakage. I feel carbon or aluminium aren’t really in keeping with a wooden bow. It rather makes me smile when I see discussion about “spinwings” - which are plastic vanes designed to induce spin. There are also discussions about applying fletchings straight or angled to induce spin. Feathers are naturally asymmetric and will induce spin even if applied straight. If you look at a feather it is curved in every plane and even the surface itself is different each side. Sometimes we just make things too complicated, when simple would do just fine. 14
Photographer: Sheron Vowden She said: “Do you think someone should warn them about the bears in the woods?” Use what is around, keep your eyes open for interesting materials ... horse hair snagged on a barbed wire fence, leather sofas being thrown out, bones and raw hide from dog chews. There is a world of interesting material and I haven’t even mentioned sinew yet! I even got some lovely colourful feathers from a ). I’ve not gone so far as to skin road kill, but I gather squirrel skin will make a good bowstring if cut as a long spiral from the skin and twisted up. For fletchings on flight arrows a local farmer who keeps a few geese allowed me to collect dropped feathers loss or breakage. I feel carbon or aluminium aren’t really in keeping with about applying fletchings straight or angled to induce spin. Feathers are naturally asymmetric and will induce spin even if applied straight. If you look at a feather it is curved in every plane and even the surface itself is different each side. Sometimes we just make
Foxhill Bowmen Memorial Shoot 4th June 2017 ~ Report by Helen Watson ~ What a great day we had. 110 archers (a club record) came to shoot our 1 x 36 3D course. The weather, after an initial heavy shower just after the start, stayed fine and dry with a little bit of sunshine in the afternoon. Thanks to Richard and Young Chris for the course, which I believe had some tricky shots and many thanks to Val May Jones (for her big pan of stew) Judith, Ann and Pat Ward for the catering and admin. Also a big thank you to Foxhill members and non-members who helped before and after the shoot. Gents AFB Ladies AFB Allan Carruthers North Lakes 532 Claire Thomson North Lakes 282 Gus Gramauskas Ye Olde Delph 530 Barry Weldon Muttley Crew 516 U/12 Boy AFB Hazon Abberley Sabden Fold 294 Gents BAREBOW Kieron Goulding Riggwelter 636 Ladies BAREBOW Paul Daley Independent 610 Kathy Newall Independent 534 Brian Richards Owlett Hall 606 Chloe McCourt Clayton Woodsmen 358 Girls U/16 BAREBOW Boys U/10 BAREBOW Alicia Gough Clayton Woodsmen 462 Jack Devine Storm 414 Gents BOWHUNTER Ladies BOWHUNTER Michael Devine Storm 606 Trish Jones Ye Olde Delph 598 Craig Smith Storm 604 Beki Bates Cheshire Oak 554 James Baxter Barbarians 594 Kath Harrison Team Firebird 508 Girls U/16 BOWHUNTER Ladies FREESTYLE Isobel Feather Foxhill 496 Kathryn Dixon Team Firebird 472 Lily Cousins Team Firebird 474 U/14 Boy FREESTYLE Gents FREESTYLE Ethan Elmy Blackburn Archery 542 Tom Cameron Lakeland 654 Nathan Smith Gawthorpe 592 Daniel Moore Team Firebird 452 18
Gents H/T Ladies HT Mike Thomson North Lakes 604 Sarah Sheppard Hollywood 470 Andy Baker Delamere F.A. 560 Kiri Francis Foxhill (Non-Comp) 376 Joe Wood Hollywood 528 Janet Wood Dolphinholme 326 Gents LONGBOW U/14 Boy HT Alan Beatty North Lakes 484 Alex Mayall Sabden Fold 276 Barry Ward Derwynd 406 John Dorning Ye Olde Delph 400 Ladies LONGBOW Viv Guthrie Delamere F.A. 444 What a great day we had. 110 archers (a club record) came to shoot our 1 x 36 3D course. Gents COMP U/LTD Jan Slater Ye Olde Delph 244 Mark Duerden Team Firebird 798 Chris Wilkinson Team Firebird 744 U/12 Boy Comp U/LTD had some tricky shots and many thanks to Val May Jones (for her big pan of stew) Judith, Mark Harrison Team Firebird 706 Harry Smith Gawthorpe 530 Gents COMP LTD U/12 Boys COMP LTD Paul Greenwood Team Firebird 668 Thomas Bailey Team Firebird 636 Thomas Lawton Team Firebird 598 Nigel Allen Team Firebird 444 U/12 Girl COMP LTD Morgan Lawton Team Firebird 564 Gents CROSSBOW Harry Atkinson Kendal Bowmen 668 Ladies CROSSBOW Toria Hough Barbarian 498 Gents PRIMITIVE Andrew Booth Barbarian 438 THE TWO MEMORIAL TROPHIES THIS YEAR WERE AWARDED TO: Mike Thomson – North Lakes – H/T Trish Jones – Olde Delph - Bowhunter 19
FAN UK invites you to “Meet Jim Metcalfe!” Sponsored archer Jim very kindly took some time out of his very hectic life to allow us to get to know him and share his experiences of archery so far! Here is what he had to say to Helen & FAN UK:- How did you get into archery? So my journey into archery started in late 2010, I was in Scotland with friends and one of them had a bow. It was something that I had always known about but was never really interested in … that is until I took my 1st shot with a compound bow. Needless to say I was hooked right from the beginning. This was my friend’s spare bow and he never got it back! I took it home and couldn’t put it down. I have always enjoyed shooting sports, rifles, shotguns etc. and this seemed like a natural progression. This interest stems from my time in the military; I served in the Royal Navy for 15 years as a weapon engineer. Playing with big guns was a childhood ambition and one I was lucky enough to fulfil. So my journey into archery had begun. “I was hooked At this point I had right from the beginning. This was been a civilian for a few years and Please introduce yourself to us! my friend’s spare bow and he never adjusting well to I’m Jim Metcalfe and I’m proud to say I’m a civilian life. Anyone compound archer. I live in Shropshire and who has served will got it back!” spend most of my time either working or know this is a difficult transition. Since leaving shooting my bow. the military I have worked for Network Rail, I am currently a level crossing risk manager for mainly in the operations side, signalling and Network Rail Wales. I cover the whole of north operations management. In my last role as an Wales and have a large portfolio of level incident controller I was lucky enough to work crossings that I’m responsible for; this includes with a great archer (this was around the time I found safety, inspections, risk assessments and safety archery). He took me under his wing mitigations. Yes - it’s as exciting as it sounds and introduced me to 3D shooting. (LOL!) but, on the plus side, I have my I joined the NFAS and started to compete. weekends free for archery. It wasn’t long before I started to win a few competitions, but more importantly it opened I am a father of three - “I’m proud two sons and a daughter. a whole new world and I made lots of up to say new friends. Off the back of this I joined I’m about to become a I’m a Artemis Archers, one of the greatest crews grandfather for the first time compound although I still think I’m way around. Our home in Belper is one of the archer.” too young to be called greatest playgrounds you will find. You have granddad! to experience cardiac hill ... it’s fun!! 20
From joining Artemis I whole weekend with a big silly grin on my was introduced into face. the world of IFAA field … the black and white So field archery for me is what I want to spots are a constant concentrate on doing, my goal is continue torment … how hard to be a good as I can be and I’m always can it be? There’s the chasing that. I’m chasing who I will be next Sponsored archer Jim very kindly took some time out of his very target, that’s how far year and that keeps me going, keeps me hectic life to allow us to get to know him and share his experiences it is, binos, rangefinder training, keeps me putting the miles in… … easy right??? I have to, I live in a county with very limited archery and certainly no field archery… How wrong was I?!! time to move methinks :-) So where does your focus lie now? What is your preferred bow class/style? Field has now become my passion and I Right from the beginning I have always shot a always known about but was never really have steered away from 3D a little. I find field compound bow. I do own a longbow but it’s shooting an unforgiving sport, multiple arrows currently used as a flag pole at opening and at a target, every shot has to be right, it really closing ceremonies … it’s an old bow that does show me my faults, my inconsistencies, hasn’t been shot for a while so it’s in glorious friend’s spare bow and he never got it back! my lack of practice :-) The search for the retirement and anyone who has ever seen perfect shot, the perfect target, the perfect me shoot a long bow will testify that it’s round is what keeps me coming back, week probably a fitting end to a chequered after week. longbow career. I’m a former mechanical So I have now been shooting field for about and electrical engineer and the whole 5 years now, scores increase every year instinctive thing does not sit well with my brain, and this form of archery has taken me so I have come to terms with compound around the world, I have competed at world unlimited and shooting a style where you are “I was hooked championships in America and Hungary; and expected to hit the middle of a target, again right from the European championships in Hungary, Sweden and Austria. Travelling is one of the greatest bonuses I could have asked for. One of my favourite shoots is the Dutch national and open championships in Emmen (Netherlands). The people are amazing and the courses, though not difficult, are a little tricky and very picturesque - I thoroughly recommend going. In 2016 I was lucky enough to be invited along to and help out with the European pro archery series, mainly helping out with scoring and other small jobs. On the back of this I was given entry into the Alternative Welsh masters… WOW, pro archery series! I couldn’t I joined the NFAS and started to compete. believe it! Standing there on the practice butts next to some of the biggest names in It wasn’t long before I started to win a few archery! I was a little nervous but raring to go, I was shooting OK and my bow was doing new friends. Off the back of this I joined what is was supposed to, however nothing really prepares you for the onslaught of a pro archery series course. The steep slopes, insane rain and wind, and smaller than usual spots … it was awesome and I walked around the 21
this doesn’t happen all the time but not if something works for you, don’t be afraid to through lack of trying. I do consider myself a share it, it might be just what someone “twiddler” and love trying new things with my is looking for. bow. I’m always trying to get my set up to hold better, shoot straighter and easier for me What is coming up next for you? … my philosophy when it comes to set ups is So for me going forward:- practice, practice, easy - if it doesn’t work, change it. You can tournament, practice again. The tournaments always put it back, but if you don’t try you’ll are coming thick and fast and I would love never know. to do them all but as we all know life does sometimes get in the way. You’re a sponsored archer - can you tell I’m a bit picky these days and I am starting to realise that you can actually do too much, us a little more? so my goals for the rest of the year are - Over the last few years more pro archery series; I’ll be joining I have been really the crew for Esch and will be shooting the lucky to have gained alternative Welsh Masters again this year; sponsorship from some the Scottish & English field champs and great companies, European field champs in Germany. It’s going both large international companies and to be a fun summer. independent companies. My main sponsor in the UK is The Archery Shop based in Poole - I wouldn’t change a thing. Like most people I https://thearcheryshop.co.uk/. Carl and the suspect, I wish I had found this sport of ours team have been superb in their support, 20 years ago - it’s given me a whole new life and one that I love. This is a lifestyle choice nothing is too much trouble for them and and not just a hobby. Archery in all forms is their support allows me to try equipment, in our blood, it’s what we do :-) use the shop facilities and, like every good shop, advice is just a phone call away. Shoot straight, see you at a shoot soon! BIG SMILES - BIG Jim Metcalfe I’m also a big fan of supporting small independent companies that are just starting (By the way, there is a story behind the out, of which HCH custom quivers is one. “BIG Jim” thing … but that’s for another Rod Groom in Scotland is producing day :-) some fabulous handmade custom quivers, he is a real artist. I’m a big believer of that Jim Metcalfe “My philosophy when it comes to set ups is easy - if it doesn’t work, change it. You can always put it back, but if you don’t try you’ll never know.” 22
share it, it might be just what someone are coming thick and fast and I would love realise that you can actually do too much, be joining the crew for Esch and will be shooting the alternative Welsh Masters again this year; the Scottish & English field champs and suspect, I wish I had found this sport of ours and not just a hobby. Archery in all forms is a story behind the “My philosophy when it comes to set ups work, change it. 23
Lawton Field Bowmen Open Field Shoot nd 2 July 2017 The day would begin with a round up. A calf had got through a fence, but was soon reunited with mum, much to the farmer’s delight. We knew the weather was going to be good and the turnout low, no matter as most of the attending archers had been coming to Lawton for years. It is a constant challenge to set a testing course to foil them as they would have shot many courses at Lawton and remembered them. The usual breakfast fayre was sizzling and brewing away as archers arrived from South Wales, West Wales, Walsall, Worcester, Wigan and The Midlands. New faces were welcomed as always. With the shoot underway Bigfoot, 16ft tall, stood waiting patiently for the first archers to present themselves to him, “I was scared that I might miss” was heard……”he stares right back at you”. Big points were at stake and as big as he is you can miss. The rest of the course (all 3Ds) depicted natural hunting scenes, boars rooting about in the woods, deer grazing in a small opening and wolves on the prowl. The archers began to realise the course was fighting back, the shots were not just pretty scenes! Time for lunch, as always I position myself away from the club hut door it can resemble migrating wildebeest. The Lawton Ladies had prepared efficiently and swift service meant archers could relax, feed and water themselves ready for the afternoon. It got a little warmer and with archers still scratching their heads they continued, enjoying the relaxed atmosphere scores improved. We were graced again by another spirited and gutsy lady. Getting around our course twice was a personal achievement and deserves a mention. With the archers now resting with cups of tea and homemade cakes the raffle and prize giving produced more laughs and banter. The course was brought in and locked up in record time and thus the day came to an end…….or so I thought, a birthday cake appeared that song was sung for two members and it seemed that nobody had homes to go to! Do visit our Facebook page - Lawton Field Bowmen @ https://www.facebook.com/groups/366159563734797/ - to see what the archers have posted. Massive thanks to our members who always put archery first and thank you Hels, wonderful online magazine. Rashid H Khan, Chairman. 24
Shoot Results:- Lawton Field Bowmen BB Gents Open Field Shoot 985 Pines Park 1st Rob West BB Ladies 1st Maureen West Pines Park 690 2nd Lynne Harrison Centaura 664 AFB Ladies 1st Jayne Fletcher Pines Park 488 PV Gents 1st Mark Peet Centaura 572 HT Gents 1st Mike Garbett Robin Hood 688 2nd Neil Gilbert Pines Park 686 themselves to him, “I was scared that I might miss” was heard……”he stares right back at you”. 3rd Keith Harley Severn Valley 668 LB Gents 1st Bob Cole Severn Valley 728 2nd Neil Beeby DW Longbow 718 Time for lunch, as always I position myself away from the club hut door it can resemble migrating 3rd Dave Wood Robin Hood 616 LB Ladies 1st Chris Harley Severn Valley 466 2nd Louise Fox Robin Hood 364 banter. The course was brought in and locked up in record time and thus the day came to Lawton Field Bowmen @ to see what the archers have posted. Massive thanks to our members 25
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Labyrinth Archers Medieval Shoot nd 2 July 2017 at Poltimore House, Exeter. Report by: Colin Smithers A glorious sunny day saw 66 happy archers at Poltimore House for a fun day of shooting at mythical and heraldic beasts. Most entered into the spirit of the occasion and arrived in medieval costume. It was twice around 18 targets of dragons, griffons, unicorns, serpents and other assorted creatures; shooting from different pegs and mostly different faces on the second loop. The highlight of the course was a fifteen foot long by eight foot high red dragon. (Rob told me to paint a big dragon so that’s what he got). On the first loop it was set at 72 yards; one group of potential dragon slayers of so called expert longbow archers, all of whom have been past NFAS Champs and 3D medal winners failed to get even one scoring arrow between them and had to resort to beating it with their sticks to kill it. (They didn’t do much better the second time around either). The ladies of Poltimore House provided excellent fare to keep everyone fed and watered. The friends of Poltimore House donated a 7ft yew log, cut from one of their trees, this was auctioned at the end of the shoot together with a collection of arrowheads donated by Norman Tucker and a primitive bow donated by Brian Lawlor. Thanks also to Rixdale Archery Supplies for donating a voucher for arrows to the raffle. All this allowed us to donate almost four hundred pounds to Poltimore House to help with their restoration project. 30
The ladies of Poltimore House provided excellent fare to keep everyone fed and watered. The friends of Poltimore House donated a 7ft yew log, cut from one of their trees, this was auctioned at the end of the shoot together with a collection of arrowheads donated by Norman Tucker and a primitive bow donated by Brian Lawlor. Thanks also to Rixdale Archery Supplies for donating a voucher for arrows to the raffle. All this allowed us to donate almost four hundred pounds to Poltimore House to help with their restoration project. ~ Results:- 2 x 16 target field course ~ Gents Primitive Ladies Primitive Giles Spearing Independent 354 Morwenna Dunstan Westcombe 232 Bob Miles Dragonfly 312 Cub Boys Primitive Ant Johnson Dragonfly 302 Luke Johnson Dragonfly 166 Brian Lawlor Independent 294 Ladies Longbow A glorious sunny day saw 66 happy archers at Poltimore House for a fun day of shooting Gents Longbow Pauline Wells Ballands 360 at mythical and heraldic beasts. Most entered into the spirit of the occasion and arrived in Bob Scott Independent 432 Jaine Whitford Torquay 288 Richard Eddington Ballands 422 Lyn Potier Bude 240 Paul Harrison Independent 404 Junior Boy Longbow loop. The highlight of the course was a fifteen foot long by eight foot high red dragon. Ian Egerton Westcombe 382 Alex Harris Labyrinth 170 (Rob told me to paint a big dragon so that’s what he got). On the first loop it was set at Bude 370 Warren Potier Steve Rufus Windwhistle 366 whom have been past NFAS Champs and 3D medal winners failed to get even one scoring Jonathan House Westcombe 354 Steve Bastyan Lambert’s Castle 344 Francis McCorrie Toad Hollow 324 Trevor Vanstone Elmtree 222 Tony Vowden Ashcombe Rtd friends of Poltimore House donated a 7ft yew log, cut from one of their trees, this was Gents American Flatbow Steve Hiller auctioned at the end of the shoot together with a collection of arrowheads donated by Bude 418 Bob Cronk Cranmore 404 Barri Penrose Purbeck 398 Nicholas Mitchell Belvedere 374 Dame Moore Yelverton 374 Phil Anning Windwhistle 364 Paul Froehlich Westcombe 346 Richard Knightley Umberleigh 320 Donald Munro Tavistock 320 Shean Reilley Windwhistle 318 Norman Tucker Cranmore 314 Daniel Francis South Hams 312 Tony Roberts Independent 312 Norman Redclift Brixham 260 Ladies American Flatbow Emily Harris Labyrinth 412 June Cronk Cranmore 390 Rae Gulliver Independent 388 Cub Girls American Flatbow Emma Johnson Dragonfly 214 31
Gents Hunting Tackle Ladies Hunting Tackle Brian Bellinger Bude 454 Gina Finch Independent 460 Paul Inkpen Westcombe 454 Dian Kirby Independent 424 Derek Sharland Ashcombe 444 Ali Le-Mar Independent 368 Tony Young South Hams 440 Juliet Harrison Toad Hollow 364 Dominic Raffler Elmtree 426 Michelle Maddern Elmtree 352 Alan Tarrant Brixham 420 Lois Jordan Toad Hollow 292 Steve Hipgrave Independent 408 Graham Cawsey Independent 394 Junior Girls Hunting Tackle Robert Caine Yelverton 380 Caja Kelly-Raffler Elmtree 224 Mike Hawkins Windwhistle 360 Jeremy Carrivick South Hams 358 Cub Boys Hunting Tackle Alan Trim Ballands 356 Harry Burke Tavistock 402 Mike Burke Tavistock 342 Phil Smith Independent 322 Cub Girls Hunting Tackle Josh Burke Tavistock 170 Eirinn Harris Labyrinth 320 Kayleigh Inkpen Westcombe 270 Ladies Crossbow Sheron Vowden Ashcombe 464 Non-Competitor Nicola McCrea South Hams 380 ~ Results:- Speed Shoot ~ Gents Shot Hit Kill Gents continued Shot Hit Kill Francis McCorrie 20 10 3 Jeremy Carrivick 13 11 3 Dominic Raffler 17 15 6 Ant Johnson 13 10 3 Steve Rufus 17 5 3 Trevor Vanstone 13 7 1 Bob Cronk 16 14 5 Donald Munro 13 2 1 Jonathan House 16 13 7 Mike Burke 12 9 1 Alan Tarrant 16 13 5 Robert Caine 11 11 11 Barri Penrose 16 13 3 Richard Eddington 11 11 4 Brian Bellinger 16 12 4 Steve Hiller 11 9 3 Matt Roberts 16 11 6 Mike Hawkins 11 8 4 Giles Spearing 16 11 4 Graham Cawsey 11 6 5 Phil Anning 16 10 5 Bob Scott 10 10 10 Bryan Lawlor 16 10 4 Nicholas Mitchell 10 10 9 Daniel Francis 16 10 2 Alan Trim 10 10 7 Bob Miles 15 14 5 Phil Smith 10 8 5 Norman Tucker 15 14 4 Josh Burke 8 6 1 Paul Inkpen 15 13 3 Steve Bastyan 6 6 4 Ian Egerton 15 13 2 Shean Reilley 15 10 0 Ladies Shot Hit Kill Steve Hipgrave 15 9 6 Juliet Harrison 18 9 1 Tony Vowden 14 14 12 Morwenna Dunstan 18 7 0 Dave Moore 14 14 4 Lois Jordan 16 9 5 Paul Harrison 14 13 3 Rae Gulliver 16 8 1 Derek Sharland 14 12 3 Emily Harris 15 14 7 Richard Knightley 14 11 4 June Cronk 15 12 5 Tony Roberts 14 10 2 Ali Le-Mar 15 12 4 Norman Redclift 14 9 0 Michelle Maddern 13 10 1 Paul Froehlich 14 9 3 Dian Kirby 12 12 5 Tony Young 14 5 2 Gina Finch 12 11 8 Warren Potier 13 11 7 Jaine Whitford 12 11 6 32
Ladies continued Shot Hit Kill Junior Boys Shot Hit Kill Lyn Potier 11 9 3 Alex Harris 19 16 8 Pauline Wells 10 10 6 Sheron Vowden 9 9 6 1st Crossbow Junior Girls Shot Hit Kill Nicola McCrae 9 9 6 Non Comp Caja Kelly-Raffler 18 3 0 Cub Boys Shot Hit Kill Cub Girls Shot Hit Kill Luke Johnson 14 8 0 Kayleigh Inkpen 15 11 1 Harry Burke 11 10 1 Eirinn Harris 12 11 3 Emma Johnson 10 4 0 ~ Results:- Wand Shoot ~ Gents Score/Hit Gents continued Score/Hit Alan Tarrant 42 10 Bryan Lawlor 10 7 Brian Bellinger 40 12 Mike Burke 10 6 Dave Moore 32 8 Dominic Raffler 10 5 Mike Hawkins 31 12 Paul Froehlich 8 8 Bob Cronk 31 11 Tony Roberts 8 8 Tony Young 28 12 Phil Anning 2 2 Norman Tucker 28 8 Paul Inkpen 27 11 Ladies Score/Hit Tony Vowden 26 12 Gina Finch 34 10 Bob Scott 26 10 June Cronk 30 10 Francis McCorrie 25 9 Ali Le-Mar 27 11 Shean Reilley 25 9 Lois Jordan 26 10 Steve Rufus 23 7 Sheron Vowden (XB) 26 10 Jonathan House 22 10 Rae Gulliver 26 8 Derek Sharland 21 9 Pauline Wells 25 9 Steve Hipgrave 20 12 Dian Kirby 23 11 Matt Roberts 20 8 Emily Harris 21 9 Richard Eddington 20 7 Nicola McCrae(N/C) 18 6 Ian Egerton 19 7 Jaine Whitford 13 5 Alan Trim 18 10 Morwenna Dunstan 11 7 Josh Burke 18 6 Juliet Harrison 11 7 Nicholas Mitchell 17 9 Michelle Maddern 10 6 Trevor Vanstone 17 5 Lyn Potier 6 6 Steve Bastyan 16 8 Daniel Francis 16 8 Junior Boys Score/Hit Ant Johnson 16 8 Alex Harris 5 5 Barri Penrose 16 8 Giles Spearing 16 8 Junior Girls Score/Hit Robert Caine 15 11 Caja Kelly-Raffler 19 7 Jeremy Carrivick 14 6 Bob Miles 14 6 Cub Boys Score/Hit Steve Hiller 13 9 Harry Burke 17 9 Phil Smith 13 9 Luke Johnson 13 5 Graham Cawsey 13 5 Norman Redclift 13 9 Cub Girls Score/Hit Warren Potier 12 8 Eirinn Harris 23 11 Paul Harrison 11 7 Kayleigh Inkpen 17 5 Richard Knightley 11 7 Emma Johnson 12 4 Donald Munro 11 7 33
* Word Search * Hint: you are looking for tea tent provisions - and YES, some clubs really do supply these! D E G N O P S A I R O T C I V F L E K A C E T A L O C O H C E R L K C P S T R O V B D I S A R E O C O P H C A B L E J K A R E S R A F L T N O M I G E L U E T H G Z F E U S L T R E O L S G A F G S E P K T I B F R S O A R W R E P E I L I H F T C L R G U D U D I C E T U O V L H O K E B E I N M A F I C L M O P H A R E L T A J K O H S G E L O A E O I T P N A E S T I N P T L O T L G T E O B H I D B A S E B N S L G O R C H I L L I O J E M A Y H E B Q A N F T E U F A Z A E T O V I A B O K T P O G U E R T P M U H Y Words/phrases to find: COFFEE TEA CHOCOLATE CAKE BOTTLED WATER COFFEE CAKE HOT SOUP BACON AND EGG ROLL VEGGIE BURGER FRESH FRUIT STEAK ROLL CHILLI VICTORIA SPONGE SAUSAGE ROLL APPLE PIE BISCUITS 34
Whitefriars Bowmen th Shoot Report 11 June 2017 What a day we had, thoroughly enjoyed by all archers who gave us plenty of compliments on our well set course which had many challenging though fair shots. The weather was very sunny and warm with a light breeze that was welcomed. Catering was managed again by Pete Phillips and Richard Knowles to whom we all say a big thank you. Kay Bruce shopped for all provisions and produced the homemade cakes which were very much appreciated. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the archers who supported our shoot and hope to welcome them all back again at a future shoot. th Our next 3D shoot is on the 8 October 2017 so if you would like to take part then please contact Bob Bruce at [email protected]. ~ Results (40 targets) ~ Hunting Tackle Gents Hunting Tackle Ladies Tony Smith Kings Forest 564 Christine Smith Kings Forest 466 Phil Smith Kings Forest 478 Sandra Meek Kings Forest 444 Kevin Cook Oakwood 442 Jan Beckham Tendring 372 Colin Robinson Independent 406 Olivia Morgan Totem 316 Richard Watson Oakwood 330 Matthew Cook Oakwood 236 Barebow Ladies Katy Jones Noak Hill 552 Barebow Gents Martin Joy Aurora 670 Barebow Junior Boy Petr Kwiczala Oakwood 510 Alfie Foster Rose & Arrows 412 Mark Svenson Magic Dragon 502 Ken Sparham Aurora 372 Barebow Cub Boy Brandon Brown Noak Hill 418 Primitive Gents Roy Easton Noak Hill 338 American Flatbow Gents David Lovell Avalon 442 Longbow Gents Andy Williams Avalon 324 Jimmy Harcus Kings Forest 508 Dave Allen Broadland 272 Kevin Button Priory 476 Carl Gibbard Avalon 464 Bowhunter Gents Colin Rose Totem 452 Craig Jones Noak Hill 680 Paul Gostick Whitefriars 392 John Foster Rose & Arrows 570 Ian Stanley Priory 306 Dave Sexton Rose & Arrows 564 Shaun Beckham Tendring 284 Dave Arnold Rose & Arrows 560 Freestyle Gents Unlimited Gents Garry Egglestone Aurora 474 Daniel Rae Kings Forest 912 David Stone Avalon 330 Gary Harvey Kings Forest 904 Marc Schwartz Aurora Retired Barry Rampling Kings Forest 876 George Zachariades Whitefriars 764 Unlimited Ladies Stan Wilding Kings Forest 762 Jane Zachariades Whitefriars 714 Darren Smart Whitefriars 758 Bob Bruce Whitefriars 735 John Clarke Whitefriars 726 John Heeley Whitefriars 684 37
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FAN UK introducing presents “Siberian Arrow”. Helen spent some time getting to know Andrei Yakushin, owner of Siberian Arrow. Here is what he had to share about how he got into archery and the incredible and rather unique 3D targets that he & his wife, Natalya, make (and their cat Thira’s role in target approval!) ... My acquaintance with the bow started But it was necessary to do something further with the fact that I gave one to a friend to add a number of targets to the next for his Birthday. Then I bought the same one tournament; so I then began to study the myself. After a while I learned that in our Internet and to think how to make the city there is a section on archery. Gradually targets yourself. I began to practice. My wife, who is an architect, designed the first target herself. It was a Martes flavigula (a Yellow-throated Marten). Then we picked up the material through trial and error. Oh! … how much energy, time and money we spent before I found the right density material; BUT how nice it was to get the first target correctly shaped!!! Then my friend and I conducted the first tests. We shot Martes flavigula many many times from lots of different distances. When my wife and I travelled, I always took And then we asked “Is it possible for us to a bow - once, in Spain, we went to a 3D sell our creations?” and we began to make shoot. It so strongly impressed me that them to order. Then we starting receiving I decided to organize training/set up a requests for a pig, a bird or something else course on 3D shooting in my city Novosibirsk. and so the range of targets expanded I learned the rules and met a man who significantly. participated in the 3D tournaments in the European part of our country. For our first 3D shoot we only had 7 archers attend and only 7 second-hand 3D targets to shoot at, but we still had a good day. Sadly, buying new targets was too expensive for our family budget. For the other targets I just printed them and secured them to blocks of foam. 40
All the models were made of clay by my Our first customer was from Sweden. wife and I (and our cat Thira!). We were very worried about sending our very first international parcels, as even the employees of our post offices didn’t know how it was done!!! BUT we managed and Sweden is now on our map of many countries to which we ship our targets. It is also very nice to see that what my wife and I make with our own hands is being appreciated by many, many miles away from us!!! Internet and to think how to make the up the material through trial and error. how nice it was to get the friend and I conducted the first tests. and so the range of targets expanded We did this in their spare time and with W e h a v e n o the funds that we earned. Then we came employees or factory up with a website and more interest was and selling targets placed the target rat on eBay. does not pay much, but we do what brings us pleasure. And since in our city the summer is very short we are now looking for a room to organise year-round 3D tournaments and we will find one, we just need a little time. Find out more about us at:- http://3darcherynovosibirsk.wixsite.com/3d-target 41
Dunbrody Archers 100 3D shoot 'If you ever come across the sea to Ireland...' sang the old crooner Bing Crosby. Well, if you haven't been 'across the pond' with your archery gear, you could do worse than consider paying a visit to Dunbrody Archers for their 100 3D two-day shoot at Tinnacarrick Woods in County Wexford. Situated a short 30 minute drive from Rosslare Ferry Port the Dunbrody woods are just off the main road between Wexford town and the town of New Ross where the club is based. Having moved from the club's old woods close to the President John F. Kennedy Homestead, this year's 100 3D shoot was the club's second such venture at their new, much larger venue. This year's 100 3D on June 10th and 11th 2017 turned out to be a great success despite initial fears of a washout in the days leading up to the shoot. Heavy rain combined with strong winds were forecast and both duly arrived on the Friday. However those who kept a sharp eye on their Met Eireann weather app could see on the constantly updated rainfall radar that the rain would clear before the shoot was due to start. Despite a few cancellations eighty enthusiastic souls arrived on the Saturday morning, a significant group travelling from Northern Ireland to experience what they had heard about on the grapevine after the 2016 100 3D. Conditions were dry but very windy, while those involved in horse racing would have described the 'going' as 'soft'! The course itself is situated around a plateau at the top of the hill where base camp for the weekend was located. Part of the course was through mature native woodland, oaks and sycamores proliferating. A second section involved some challenging uphill and downhill shots among mature coniferous trees and some open areas. The third part of the course was newly carved out through relatively young virgin forest, leading everyone to comment on the huge level of work which had obviously gone into this part of the course in particular. PICTURED LEFT: “CONCENTRATION WAS A MUST” 42
From a shooting point of view the course consisted of forty numbered shooting lanes, with a mix of one, two, three or a maximum of four targets per lane. Care was required when choosing which peg to stand at for each target as not all targets were visible from each peg. Archers were required to orally designate which target they were shooting at from each peg. Any inadvertent kills or wounds by stray arrows did not count. A rolling lunch was the order of the day with Situated a short 30 minute drive from Rosslare Ferry Port the base camp at the centre of a figure of eight, meaning each group could take two breaks. With one hundred targets the shooting day was a long one. Sustenance in the form of burgers and sausages freshly cooked on the barbeque by the resident cook were available and stocks were depleted rapidly as tired and hungry archers passed through. Discussion revolved around the challenging nature of the great success despite initial fears of a washout in the days leading course, the huge level of preparation which had taken place and on the Sunday in particular, up to the shoot. Heavy rain combined with strong winds were forecast and both duly arrived on the Friday. However those who kept a sharp eye on the level of satisfaction at having completed the course twice, a mini-EBHC in the making. their Met Eireann weather app could see on the constantly updated rainfall radar that Particular mention was made of one group of targets. Three standing the rain would clear before the shoot was due to start. Despite a few cancellations eighty bears were positioned beneath a high rocky outcrop requiring a shooting angle of at least 45° below the horizontal. Such was the sustained, powerful strength of the gale force wind up on the height, archers had to resort to a variety of shooting poses to prevent their arrows from being immediately blown off the arrow rest. Some archers helped the other members of their group by literally shielding their fellow competitors from the constant onslaught. Some interesting hairstyles were evident in photos and video footage taken as people attempted to let loose. is situated around a plateau at the top of the hill where base camp for the weekend The consensus on the Sunday evening was that the weekend had was located. Part of the course was through mature native woodland, oaks and sycamores been an enormous success with all vowing to return in June 2018. proliferating. A second section involved some challenging uphill and downhill shots New friendships were made, existing ones strengthened and ultimately archery in Ireland is the beneficiary. For its part, Dunbrody Archers is looking to the future carved out through relatively young virgin with plans to expand the course even further, as the space available is almost unlimited. So, if you are an archer who has never been to Ireland, keep us in mind when you are planning your personal archery calendar for 2018. You will receive a typically warm Irish welcome and the cook will be back in business! 43
“Arrow Traumas” A quiver full of arrows I will sometimes make But one or two I'll Robin Hood And one or two I'll break. I have a friend who's lost a lot It's often quite vexatious It seems the woodland demons are Terribly voracious. No sooner than his quiver's full It seems to want to empty Pointless, nockless, splintered wood, Flightless shafts a-plenty. As most of them just disappeared This is what I think... The arrows would last longer If he fletched them all in pink. By Sue Kenworthy, October 2016. ~ Photograph by Jason Quinn ~ 45 5 4
Delamere Field Archers Open Shoot 16 July 2017 th Sunday 16th July started out grey & wet, but that didn’t stop some people from making considerable journeys to get to us. Fortunately the weather sorted itself out, and most of the day was spent in glorious sunshine. Small groups and plenty of empty targets meant that things flowed smoothly during the day, with people dropping into catering as they passed between targets 18 & 19. Talking to archers during the day, a great many positive comments were heard in relation to the course, which is a great credit to our course laying team of Dave, Tom, Richie, Liz, Mike & Tony. A substantial amount of positive feedback on the NFAS Facebook page also makes it clear that visiting archers had a great time shooting round our newly laid course and felt that the journey had been well worth it. Derek, Phillipa and Viv did a superb job in keeping the hot food coming. Once again a special “thank you” must go to Pat Bellfield for supplying us with a generous selection of very tasty cakes. In conclusion then, another successful Open shoot, thanks to the efforts & hard work of the small band of club members who make it happen. Plus of course, all of the visiting archers who came & enjoyed our wood for the day! Results:- Bow Hunter Gents Barebow Gents Tim Jones Ye Olde Delph 540 Chris Robson Wyre Hall 598 Barebow Girls U16 Chris Sharp Independent 480 Elinor Jones Ye Olde Delph 484 Ethan King Kendal Bowman 418 Longbow Gents Longbow Ladies Lionel Rodriguez Longbow Heritage 402 Jan Slater Ye Olde Delph 312 John Dorning Ye Olde Delph 392 Hunting Tackle Gents Andrew Weekes Muttley Crew 364 Mike Smith Lyme Valley 536 Hunting Tackle Ladies Chris Plant Foxhill 536 Eileen Pass Oakridge 310 Derek Fuller Foxhill 470 American Flat Bow Gents Hunting Tackle Girls U12 Craig Smith Storm 488 Emily Doyle Lyme Valley 296 Barry Weldon Muttley Crew 440 American Flat Bow Ladies Pete McGiffen Sabden Fold 400 Mary Todd Wyre Hall 308 American Flat Bow Girls U16 American Flat Bow Boys U12 Georgia Sieradzki Audley Parish 330 James McGiffen Sabden Fold 512 Compound Unlimited Gents Primitive Gents Tim Chatfield Audley Parish 716 Andrew Booth Barbarian Bowmen 356 Spencer Martin Redoubtables 712 Freestyle Gents Martin Cooper Audley Parish 710 Ian Dicken Oakridge 500 Compound Unlimited Ladies Clare Akeroyd Muttley Crew 576 ~ Our next shoot is on Sunday 15th October 2017, 36 Big Game with Catering; Sorry No X-Bows. ~ 46
the weather sorted itself out, and most of the day was spent in coming. Once again a special “thank you” must go to Pat Bellfield for supplying us with a 47
long term preparation. Sunday afternoon was taken Field Archery – Chapter 4 up by the Flag Raising with Keep Straight On? I had used my new PSE bow Welcoming Speeches by our Part 2 hoping for a big improvement in EFAA President, Steve Kendrick my scores, no poor weather to and the Lady Mayor of spoil things. by Mitch Vaughan, However, in spite of St. Edmundsbury. This was Billericay, Essex. winning the “B” class award in the followed by us all being served CFU division, my scores were only with a glass of champers for what I had been scoring in earlier celebration of the event. It was The next job was to run the events, but I did have hopes for IFAA UK Champs at the club. the next competition. This was to a very hot day, so most people Dave had done much of the be the IFAA European Champs, made for shady areas to keep planning so it was not too cool. Some of us wandered off to be held at Culford School in difficult for a group of members Suffolk again. to find the practice area, but to pick it up and continue found many of the targets shot the work he had started. out by those who had arrived I hardly had time to get myself The Champs were set for the together before EFAC was upon earlier. This made it very difficult first Saturday and Sunday in us. The Panther Posse was back for checking out sight marks and fine tuning bows. Giving up on July. Thanks to Dave’s forward up to strength again and most planning all was in place for the of them joined the convoy to this, we went off to our beds for start on the first morning. Culford and set up their camping the night, after a decent dinner at our hotel. gear on the designated site. The weather on Saturday was Astrid joined me this time, but we fine and sunny for the hundred travelled separately to the Posse, Monday we were up early for or so competitors who made as we were booked into a hotel breakfast and then travelled to the start. The Panther Posse was in Bury St. Edmunds as were the Assembly outside the main somewhat depleted as many some other Panther members. school building. After Assembly were helping to feed the hungry we were sent off, with guides, to our respective courses, for archers, replace shot-out targets This time I have a report, the and to do any work that showed made just after the event, opening Field round. up during the day. I had The courses were identified by written jointly by Rod Wale been declared “surplus to colours and the night before myself, to base the and requirements”, so was able to following description of the I had checked which course I join in and shoot. Although we event:- would be shooting on. It looked have a fairly flat course, we were able to take advantage of what gradients we had and use the light and shade provided by dense groups of trees, to lay a challenging course. Sunday proved to be fine again, so shooting was most enjoyable for competitors and many were able to record personal best scores. When the results were declared, it showed that Panther had a good grip on the medals, in spite of many of our team not shooting. All in all, it was a fitting tribute to Dave’s hard work and 48
like both Astrid and I would be on Red course, so I attached myself to the group heading that way. Unfortunately, I had misread the listing and should have been on Yellow course and the Lady Mayor of with the other Unlimited St. Edmundsbury. This was Compound shooters. Instead, I found myself with a group of Freestyle Compounders and was celebration of the event. It was embarrassed to find I was the only one using a release aid. It was too late to move to my cool. Some of us wandered off correct group, so I was allowed to shoot with the finger shooters the rest of the day. It was a hot and sticky day and I found that although having a release Tuesday was off to White course said to see him the next day and aid I had difficulty in achieving for the Hunter round. I got it he would check the bow out for scores matching the rest of the right this time! I had worked me. group. This was partly due to a on my sight the previous evening Wednesday and on Red course new Spigarelli sight which I had so was hopeful of a better fitted to my Eclipse not locking performance. This was not to be for the Marked Big Game Round. properly, but I would have to however, as my adjustments had The weather had cooled a little, wait until the end of the day’s thrown out the sight marks set at even a hint of rain. My Merlin shooting to attend to it. Coming Panther. I had, therefore, to make was not yet fixed so I decided to off the course at the end of adjustments at nearly all of the use the PSE, which I had been the day I was met by one of our targets, particularly the longer using mainly for Target shooting. members in his MPV and rushed distance ones. It was another hot This proved to be a good back to base, as Astrid had day and this really stretched my decision, for with the combina- the opening Field round. apparently collapsed from the patience to the limit. On the way tion of brightly coloured Freitag faces heat. Very fortunately a cool back to base I bumped into and having shooting re-hydration drink and short nap Chris Jones and mentioned my distances no more than 60 yds, was enough to perk her up for problems to him. He had recently I felt much more confident. dinner and an early night. modified Astrid’s Sapphire and And so it worked out, as I came in with a score of 552 out of 560, my best score to date for that round. Something that put some people off, was that a couple of the targets backed closely on to the river which ran through the grounds, much as we had seen at March Hare. But as sighted archers only were shooting that course that day, I was not aware of any serious mishaps. As was usual when shooting the MBG round, we finished much earlier than on the other days. This enabled me to tie in with Ben and Chris Jones to have the Eclipse sorted out. They decided 49
the new cables had settled trade s in unevenly, which affected the timing of the cams. They corrected this but, even after I fitted a new Detowis stabiliser which I had recently bought from the company’s stand, I decided to stick with my PSE for the rest of the week. Thursday started off very windy as I moved back on White course for the second Field round. This was a much more open course and I never got on stands. One was showing a new seriously, but it would be of terms with the wind conditions range of bows, including a interest in my coaching work. and ended shooting a score “Single Cam” model from the In the evening we had a more than 20 points down on USA. Many of us were impressed Banquet in the main hall of the my Monday score. Fortunately, by this, as for a given peak school, followed by the medal some members of the Posse weight it seemed much easier to presentation. This really put the did get to grips with the draw than an equivalent Twin Panther Posse in high spirits, conditions and shot very well, Cam bow, so thoughts started more so when the medals were Marillyn Wale even shooting being directed towards new bows handed out. This included 6 a new European record in her for next year. The stand appealed Golds, including Astrid who had division. The evening ended with to me most however, was one had a very good week, 4 Silvers, a good dinner and off we showing a range of reproduction 1 Bronze and 2 “B” Class awards. went to bed to get a good Turkish and Mongol bows. These night’s sleep in preparation for were much cheaper than the our final day’s shooting. new compound bows and I ended up buying one of the Friday was the second Hunter Mongol models. I also purchased round, and on Yellow course, a selection so the first time on this of reproduction course for me. The course was arrows or “Steles”, with a range the one closest to the assembly of replica medieval arrow heads, area and pretty sheltered from for display purposes only. I did the wind. This enabled me to not expect to shoot this bow improve on my Tuesday’s score by about 10 points, although still not very impressive. In the evening we had the Class Awards presentation, nothing for me however. One member of the Posse, Mark Lane, did win a “B” Class award in his division. He was over the moon about this as he had only completed his Beginners Course at Easter. Saturday gave us a chance to relax as all the main events would not be until the evening. So we had a leisurely breakfast and went off to look around the 50
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